Microsoft Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2 Release Date, Rumors

Last year's Microsoft Surface Pro. How will it compare with the Surface Pro 5? Photo: Microsoft

It would appear that Microsoft hasn't completely perfected "the iPad killer" with the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. However, it did make something to keep Apple on its toes when it comes to tablets, and it is only a matter of time before Microsoft makes a follow-up. This is the latest news about the release date and rumors for the Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2.

According to the International Business Times, there are rumors that Microsoft is working on a successor model to the Surface Pro 4, and they are also working on an upgraded version of the Surface Book.

So far we know a few things about the Surface Pro 5, like it will be fueled by the Intel Skylake chipset. At this point, Skylake is just a given considering the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are planned to have that. Unlike, the new MacBooks for this year, it is expected to be released with the latest Windows 10 Redstone 2 OS preinstalled, according to Tech Radar.

Considering that we are seeing a "bigger is better" fad with tablets as the iPad Pro is at 12.9 inches, and the Surface Pro 4 has a 12.3 screen with 2736 x 1824 pixels. The Surface Pro 5 is expected to have a larger screen of 13.3 inches and could carry support for 4K resolution.

The Surface Pro 4 was considered a big success, but one of the drawbacks was the battery life. It currently has about five to six hours, but the Pro 5 could be about seven hours. There are also expected to be some improvements with the Surface Pen, with a charging pot, power on/off button, and LED light for notifications. Then there is the expectation of a USB Type-C port.

So when it is expected to come out? Well, the Surface Pro 4 was about six months ago, so the Surface Pro 5 is probably planned to be out in the next six months. It should have a price of about $899, according to Laptop Mag for a base version with Intel 5. Then there be a i7 powered variant for $999, and the i7 Extreme will have $1,599.

As for the Surface Book 2, this could be launched either in June or October this year, but just like the Surface Pro 5, there isn't any solid basis on that claim. It is also claimed to have 4K resolution, Intel Skylake processor, as well as the Redstone update of Windows 10 OS, according to BREATHEcast.

The release date could be coming sooner than later on this particular gadget, because News Every Day reports that Microsoft is offering a $100 discount on some Core i5 Surface Pro 4 tablets on the Microsoft Store. Generally, a discount on the latest version of a product is usually a sign that another new version of the product is on the way. That is the pattern for MacBooks, at least.